Bulls Use Two 2nd Half Goals to Down St. Leo in Exhibition Finale

TAMPA- The University of South Florida women’s soccer team used a similar script to their win over Jacksonville, as the completed a sweep of their two match exhibition slate with a 2-0 win over St. Leo University at the USF Soccer Stadium Saturday evening.

The two bay-area schools played a scoreless first half with both teams trying to establish possession. Throughout the period the Bulls did a nice job possessing the ball and producing numerous scoring chances. USF’s best chance came when sophomore mid-fielder Noelle Pineiro rifled a shot off the cross bar, ricocheting harmlessly back into play and then cleared by the Lions.

After the Bulls failed to take advantage of a number of scoring opportunities in the first half, USF would keep the offensive pressure on St. Leo’s keeper, Christina Coca, finally paying off in the 53rd minute. True freshman Eyllcia Colon took a beautiful cross from sophomore Chantelle Goodson, sending it past a diving Coca to put the Bulls on the board.

For the second consecutive match, the USF keepers did not see much action as St. Leo’s only put one shot on goal. Senior Mallori Lofton-Malachi stopped the Lions only shot on goal early in the first half. Redshirt-freshman Gaby Garton replaced the captain with 28 minutes left and played the remainder of the match to preserve the victory.

St. Leo feverishly attacked the Bulls goal over the last 20 minutes of the match. At the 17th minute mark, the Lions had a free kick just outside the 18-yard box but it went high. The Bulls weathered a pair of corner kicks by St. Leo with some solid defense coupled with a Garton save and kept the shutout in tacked.

Colon’s goal would prove to be all the Bulls would need but USF would tack on an insurance goal with at 7:38 remaining off of a St. Leo turnover. Senior Amanda McCormick forced the Lions miscue, then centered a pass to redshirt freshman, Brittany Burt, who placed the second and final goal of the game.

For the match, USF outshot the Lions by a decisive 12-5 margin. Of the Bulls shots, only four were on goal. Although the Bulls possessed the better part of the match, the Lions did hold the ball often, tallying six corners. The Bulls, however, outdid the Lions with seven for the match.

The Bulls thought they had a third goal but an offsides call negated the tally.

The Bulls have found an offensive prowess as they have scored multiple goals twice in as many exhibition matches after doing it only twice in all of 2008. For the second time USF did all of their scoring in the second half.

The University of South Florida will turn their focus to the regular season opener as FAU will invade USF Soccer Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Following FAU, a trip up to Gainesville looms as the Bulls will travel North up I-75 to take on the Florida Gators on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m.

Season tickets for USF women's soccer games are $40 for adults and $20 for youths and senior citizens. Adult individual match tickets are $6, while youth and senior citizen admission is $3. All groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $2.50 per ticket. All USF students will be admitted at no cost when they display their student ID.

Final

Post Game Video: Schilte-Brown | Colon